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Planting expected to pick up in southern Minnesota this week

Planting should pick up in the Upper Midwest this week. Wayne Schoper with South Central College in Mankato, Minnesota says soils are warming and there’s decent moisture. “I’ve been hearing that the tiles have been running, when you go in the drainage ditch you... Read More.

Planting expected to pick up next week in southwest Iowa

A southwest Iowa farmer says corn and soybean planting has started in his area. Kevin Ross farms near Minden and says he’s hearing some growers got an early start to the planting season. “I’ve heard of a couple guys getting started just south of... Read More.

New MO beef packing plant expected to open this week

Missouri Ag Director Chris Chinn says America’s Heartland Packing will process 2,400 head of cattle each day, once fully operational. “I think their plan, when they get completely up and going, is to do 1,200 head per day of cull cattle: cows and bulls,... Read More.

Economist says decline in placements expected to continue

The USDA’s latest Cattle on Feed numbers had placements down 18 percent in its latest report. Mississippi State University livestock economist Josh Maples says the February 2024 placement number contributed to the decline. “We had winter storms that really shifted cattle movements,” he says.  “So... Read More.

2025 farm incomes expected to be propped up by aid

The director of the Renk Agribusiness Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison says the USDA projects 2025 farm incomes to be higher than recent years. However, in a Science for Success webinar, Paul Mitchell says there’s a caveat to that. “We got this big... Read More.

ECAP assistance expected to start next week

The USDA is expected to roll out the first round of Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) funds starting next week. Brooke Appleton, USDA’s deputy under secretary for farm production and conservation, says the funding was allocated in the Continuing Resolution passed by Congress last December. ... Read More.

Farm financials better than expected

An agricultural lender says farmers are finding ways to make it through the down ag economy. Tyler Martin with Compeer Financial says interest rates are higher than before but also closer to normal. “I’ve only been in the industry about 15 to 20 years,... Read More.

Snowier second half of January expected for Upper Midwest

An abnormally dry start to winter in the Upper Midwest could soon give way to wetter conditions. Bret Walts with BAMWX says the western half of the country has been warmer than the eastern half, which favors a southern storm track. “But what happens... Read More.